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Hello There
First of all, I wanted to take a second to thank you for choosing me to capture this special time in your lives. I am so excited not only for the big day, but to get to know you both leading up to it!
I know that planning a wedding can be overwhelming, that’s why i’ve created this guide which is filled with very helpful tips and information that will help your day run smoothly.
This guidebook can be a resource for not only my brides and grooms but also for maids of honour, parents of the couple, wedding coordinators or anyone who you want to be involved in the process.
In my years as a wedding photographer and videographer, I've realized that much of the success of a wedding day happens due to two things:
1) the relationships formed with my couples in the months before the wedding and, as a result
2) open conversations about how you can best equip me as your photographer to achieve results so that intentional planning can be done before the wedding day.
This ensures that you know well in advance exactly what would help make your day the best it can possibly be!
Approach
My core philosophy is centred around capturing real, unscripted moments. We believe the true essence of a wedding day lies in those spontaneous expressions of joy and happiness, not in artificially posed scenarios. It's the genuine, heartfelt moments that couples cherish when they look back on their day, not us instructing them to hold poses that feel unnatural.
However, we do recognize the importance of a little direction, especially during the couple's portrait session. We understand that being natural in front of a camera isn't always instinctive, so we provide gentle guidance to facilitate authentic interactions. Our approach involves softly directing 2 to 3 scenes that encourage the couple to engage with each other in a way that feels true to them and looks visually appealing on camera.
This limited direction serves a dual purpose: it prevents the couple from feeling overwhelmed by constant instructions and allows us to maintain the session's spontaneity and fun. Our aim isn't perfection but to embrace each couple's natural flow and unique dynamics. We let the moments unfold as they may, capturing the beauty in the imperfections and the authenticity of their interactions.
Outside of these lightly directed scenes, our focus remains steadfast on documenting the day as it naturally unfolds. This blend of minimal direction and candid capture is the essence of our technique, allowing us to create a true, emotional narrative of the wedding day.
Wedding Day Structure
Click to view my full detailed wedding day flow:
Testimonials
“ thank you for coming all the way from canada to make our wedding look and feel amazing. your talent speaks for itself but your energy + kindness made everything so perfect. the way you saw each moment and knew exactly how to get the perfect shot was magic and we are already obsessed with what you’ve captured. people kept saying how cool you were - not just for what you do but for who you are. we’re so grateful you shared this experience with us. “
Brittney & Alex
“ Our experience working with Brandon for our wedding day was excellent. He went above and beyond for us capturing candid and special moments from our big day and was wonderful to work with and be around. Any brides looking for something special to add to their day and to preserve the authenticity of your day needs to book with Brandon! “
Francis & Nicholas
“ Brandon is an absolute amazing photographer/videographer. He made the day so easy, we hardly noticed him. When we were doing more personal shots he made things fun and easy. He's a great guy and super easy to get along with!!! After receiving our wedding gallery a few months later.. oh boy was it ever worth the wait! He produced something way better then i could have ever imagined! I would 100% recommend him for your special day! “
Hannah & Anthony
The more you allow the day to unfold, the more meaningful the images become.
Group Photographs
sometimes the group portraits can be pretty hectic, however this can be avoided by doing some planning ahead and organising. Here are very tips and pieces of advice that have been very helpful in the past.
Having a pre-written list of the groups that you would like, including the names of each person in each group will save you a huge amount of time.
Check out my group list here:
https://www.sevenoakmedia.com/family-friend-photo-list-example
01 / Have a list
Often there are other people (usually family) invested in this part of the day, these pictures are really important to parents. Work with your families to create your list so that everyone is happy and have the pictures they want.
02 / Collaborate on the list
Typically I have my second photographer read these names out for me but incase I can not have my second photographer read out names, have someone you trust hang out with me for this section of the day. Usually someone in the wedding party or a close family member to point out who is who. This is really helpful for me to round up people.
03 / Assign a trusted person
People
Writers who don’t know their main characters rarely end up with great stories, and I believe it’s the same when it comes to photographing weddings.
Knowing who matters most to you helps me tell your story more thoughtfully. I love learning who the people you care the most are, who’s in your wedding party, and who may have traveled from the other side of the world to be there with you. Those little details help me stay focused on what truly matters throughout the day.
Everyone present is important, of course, but in a room full of people, we all have a few who mean a little more. My goal is to notice and preserve those connections in a way that feels honest and intentional.
This is honestly my favourite part of the day. Watching people be themselves, catching them in their element, and documenting how they naturally exist with one another.
Weather
So rain is obviously the weather option we really don't want to see, unless you're planning to already spend all day indoors in which case it's no problem! However if this isn't the case it could be worth thinking about.
Firstly from a ceremony perspective - do you have a backup covered option for a case of rain?
if not a good investment could be hiring ar purchasing a bulk set of umbrellas to keep everyone nice and dry.
If this is something that is within your budget, choosing umbrellas al of the same colour or clear con be a pretty cool aesthetic to add to your photographs too.
RAIN
A beautiful sunny day is often best-case scenario for most wedding days, however one little factor to be careful of is caring far your guests.
Not everyone is thrilled with a day in the sun, especially those who are sensitive to the heat.
If it's looking likely to be a stunning cloud-free day. it could be worth making sure there are shaded areas far guests to chill out in, or umbrellas / parasols on hand so they can provide their on shade.
Lots of water for hydration and sunscreen will be options your guests appreciate!
SUN
Wind is something photographers often embrace as it can add drama to your images and enhance things.
There is of course always too much of a good thing.
If your ceremony is in a spot that is known to have wind and you still want your guests to be able to hear everything happening, lapel microphones are a must.
A windy day with a standard microphone can mean a lot of interference or the sound just not carrying and some or all of your guests left straining to hear.
Something else to consider for a windy day is hair - if you're a fan of dramatic images with windswept hair then this is no issue.
WIND
Lighting & Portrait Locations
A beautiful sunny day is of course what we want for you and your guests! In terms of photography, it does mean that you'll likely be squinting at each other if you are married in the middle of the day when the sun is right above us. As a rule, and of course if possible - the best scenario for a sunny day is to have the sun positioned behind you, this will make it more comfortable for you and the lighting a lot less harsh for the photographs too.
An overcast day is a photographer’s dream in disguise. The clouds act like a giant softbox in the sky, giving you beautifully even, flattering light with no harsh shadows and no squinting. It’s incredibly forgiving on skin tones and allows us to photograph you comfortably at any time of day without chasing shade or avoiding certain angles. The result is a softer, more timeless look that lets the emotions and moments take center stage. If the clouds decide to stick around, know that your photos will feel calm, cinematic, and effortlessly romantic.
Overcast vs. Sunny Day
Light is the single most important element in photography. Without it, there are no images. I’m comfortable working in all kinds of lighting conditions, but thinking about light in advance can elevate your photos even further.
You may have heard that overcast days are ideal for photographing people, and while that’s often true, beautiful and creative images can be made in any type of light. It’s less about chasing perfect conditions and more about understanding what the light is doing and using it intentionally.
Sunset & Golden Hour
7:00pm
First course and speeches start
7:40pm
Main course speeches continue
8:00pm
Photographer & Couple sneak out for sunset photos
8:30pm
Couple returns, desert, speeches & cake cutting
9:00pm
Dance floor is open
You may have heard sunset referred to often by photographers as "golden hour", this is because in the hour before the sunset goes down landscapes really can look like they're made of liquid gold. You'll be familiar with the beautiful images we can create at sunset as it is the optimum lighting conditions in so many ways. Often sunset will be happening during your reception so if sunset photographs together is something you'd like it is beneficial to structure your schedule for this to work.
Gallery Delivery
When it’s time to deliver your wedding gallery, you’ll receive an email from me with a direct link. The process is simple and intuitive, but i wanted to give you a quick idea of what to expect before you dive in.
I deliver all galleries through a professional gallery platform trusted by photographers worldwide. it’s secure and easy to use, and only the two of you will have access unless you choose to share it with friends or family.
Once your final edited images are uploaded, you can view them as a slideshow, browse them mosaic style, or click through one by one. You’ll also have the option to download your images in two different resolutions, depending on how you’d like to use them.
Here is an example gallery mixed with film and digital:
Perfect for sending via email, posting on social media or keeping on your phone to show people when you're out and about. These photos are not suitable for printing and are lower resolution.
Web Resolution
High resolution files are recommended to download when you want to print your images, it can be tempting to assume that the highest resolution is the best resolution for everything but actually the opposite is true. Uploading a high resolution image to social media can actually compress the image making it appear blurry and pixelated.
High Resolution
Your package includes hosting of your gallery for 365 days, please make sure that you download your gallery entirely, in high resolution and keep it in a couple of safe places.
Gallery Lifespan
Your gallery also connects you directly to my print store - where you can order a range of prints, framing, albums, thank you cards etc. Ordering is super simple and all prices are listed.
Order Prints & Books
If you’d like to keep your gallery online longer, I offer an additional 10 years of online hosting for $100.
Albums & Prints
It's no secret that holding a tangible photo has a different feeling than viewing your photographs through a screen. There's something about physically holding a photo in your hand that allows you to connect with the images differently. And while digital images have their place, my end goal for your photos is to never have them live in an online gallery.
Photos are heirlooms, and heirlooms are meant to be passed down through the generations. Because of this, you want tangible products that will last. It can be a bit difficult to know where to get your photos printed. And while some of the cheaper options might appear to be of quality at the time of delivery, most will likely not stand the test of time.
To alleviate this problem altogether, you can buy prints directly through your online gallery.
What happens next?
We will schedule a call 2 months out from your wedding day to chat about a couple things.
Overall vibe & vision for your wedding photos. We will start working on the family photo shot list, moodboard, etc.
Lastly, on this call I will provide tips for timeline for the day to run smoothly. I do offer minimal timeline help but I would recommend you have someone on the wedding day to coordinate this!
2 months out
I will reach out via email an in-depth questions and answers form. This will include family combinations, venue addresses, Bridal party names, vendor info, emergency contact info, etc.
Your wedding timeline should be in the final stages at this point as well.
1 month out
1 week out from your wedding date, I’ll send over a payment reminder for your last payment and confirming your timeline. I will look over your questionnaire one last time and follow up on anything that might need to be changed. I will also be available to help with any last-minute changes or questions.
1 week out
On the date of your wedding, I will reach out to the emergency contact, best man, MOH and/or planner to ensure all addresses are correct and that my team and I are on our way. This avoids any stress and also you don't need to be checking your phone on your wedding day!
Wedding day
Your wedding day isn’t about hitting every photo on a checklist. It’s about being present and trusting that the moments that matter most will be captured.
Ask yourself, “What will matter in 20 years?”
Thank you
for trusting me to document your day the way it felt, not just how it looked.